Universal Masking in White Bear Lake Schools
Universal Masking in White Bear Lake Schools
The Issue
We call upon the White Bear Lake school board and superintendent to safeguard our children from COVID-19 as they return to in-person school this fall. It is imperative to require universal masking in schools as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the CDC, and the Minnesota Department of Health.
It’s been a long pandemic. All of us have made difficult choices to keep our families and community safe. We’ve masked up, distanced, delayed social events and gatherings, and followed the science to protect our community, our elders, and our most at risk. We’ve stayed home with our kids as they learned online last year, whether in a hybrid mode or full distance learning. For those 12 years of age and over, the availability of vaccines has meant somewhat of a return to pre-pandemic normalcy. But for our children too young to get vaccinated yet, the pandemic is not over. The only real protection they will have at school this fall is masks, layered with other prevention measures. Don't let the sacrifices we've made over the last year-and-a-half be in vain by failing our children just as the end is near.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, and Minnesota Department of Health recommend a universal masking policy in schools as part of a multi-pronged, layered approach to protect students, teachers, and staff. White Bear Lake district’s current back to school guidelines released July 18 in no way follow these recommendations.
While children are at a lower risk for severe or fatal outcomes from contracting COVID19, they are not NO risk. Contracting COVID19 carries the risk of severe disease and other complications such as MIS-C and long-haul syndrome. This is not to mention the children with preexisting conditions who ARE high risk for severe COVID19 and even more so deserve to be protected in schools. How devastating it would be for a single child to have long-term health complications because the district’s policy makers chose to disregard the recommendations of our country’s leading experts in infection control and pediatric health.
We are very concerned about the increased prevalence of the delta variant. As of July 17, the delta variant accounted for 83% of all COVID19 infections nationwide. In Minnesota, 75% of infections are caused by the delta variant, up from 57.2% on July 3. This variant is so much more contagious than the original strain, that without masking and other layered mitigation measures, schools may become an everyday super spreader event in our community.
We know from studies that masks work to decrease transmission and do not have any adverse health effects for the wearers. Furthermore, masks work best when everyone is wearing one. (Your mask helps protect me, mine helps protect you). Allowing families to choose whether or not to mask their children in a fully UNvaccinated population decreases the protection to those who do want to keep their children safe. It does not follow the science and recommendations of experts to have an optional masking policy for those under 12 when we know that the entire population is unvaccinated. Furthermore, we know that while breakthrough infections are rare, they do happen. That is why the experts recommend masking for all individuals in schools, regardless of vaccination status, to protect our children and community.
Vaccines have been proven to be effective against severe disease and death from COVID19 infection. However, vaccines are not yet available for the under 12 population. As such, it is our duty as parents, educators, and policy makers to protect those who are not yet able to be protected with our decisions and policies. We ask that the school board and superintendent affirm the guidance from the AAP, CDC, and MDH, and mandate masks for all students -- especially those under 12. Not every family will choose to have their children immunized, but we should provide for a protected, safe environment for all ineligible students at least until families who DO want to vaccinate their children have the opportunity to do so.
It is our obligation as parents and educators to follow the science and have universal masking and layered mitigation mandates in White Bear Lake schools this fall. It is every child’s right to attend an in-person school where they are safe and protected. We know you, the policy makers, will follow the evidence and guidance from the experts in children’s health to change White Bear Lake district’s policies to align with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the MDH.
AAP, CDC, and MDH guidance:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/schoolrecs.pdf#page5
References:
The Issue
We call upon the White Bear Lake school board and superintendent to safeguard our children from COVID-19 as they return to in-person school this fall. It is imperative to require universal masking in schools as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the CDC, and the Minnesota Department of Health.
It’s been a long pandemic. All of us have made difficult choices to keep our families and community safe. We’ve masked up, distanced, delayed social events and gatherings, and followed the science to protect our community, our elders, and our most at risk. We’ve stayed home with our kids as they learned online last year, whether in a hybrid mode or full distance learning. For those 12 years of age and over, the availability of vaccines has meant somewhat of a return to pre-pandemic normalcy. But for our children too young to get vaccinated yet, the pandemic is not over. The only real protection they will have at school this fall is masks, layered with other prevention measures. Don't let the sacrifices we've made over the last year-and-a-half be in vain by failing our children just as the end is near.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, and Minnesota Department of Health recommend a universal masking policy in schools as part of a multi-pronged, layered approach to protect students, teachers, and staff. White Bear Lake district’s current back to school guidelines released July 18 in no way follow these recommendations.
While children are at a lower risk for severe or fatal outcomes from contracting COVID19, they are not NO risk. Contracting COVID19 carries the risk of severe disease and other complications such as MIS-C and long-haul syndrome. This is not to mention the children with preexisting conditions who ARE high risk for severe COVID19 and even more so deserve to be protected in schools. How devastating it would be for a single child to have long-term health complications because the district’s policy makers chose to disregard the recommendations of our country’s leading experts in infection control and pediatric health.
We are very concerned about the increased prevalence of the delta variant. As of July 17, the delta variant accounted for 83% of all COVID19 infections nationwide. In Minnesota, 75% of infections are caused by the delta variant, up from 57.2% on July 3. This variant is so much more contagious than the original strain, that without masking and other layered mitigation measures, schools may become an everyday super spreader event in our community.
We know from studies that masks work to decrease transmission and do not have any adverse health effects for the wearers. Furthermore, masks work best when everyone is wearing one. (Your mask helps protect me, mine helps protect you). Allowing families to choose whether or not to mask their children in a fully UNvaccinated population decreases the protection to those who do want to keep their children safe. It does not follow the science and recommendations of experts to have an optional masking policy for those under 12 when we know that the entire population is unvaccinated. Furthermore, we know that while breakthrough infections are rare, they do happen. That is why the experts recommend masking for all individuals in schools, regardless of vaccination status, to protect our children and community.
Vaccines have been proven to be effective against severe disease and death from COVID19 infection. However, vaccines are not yet available for the under 12 population. As such, it is our duty as parents, educators, and policy makers to protect those who are not yet able to be protected with our decisions and policies. We ask that the school board and superintendent affirm the guidance from the AAP, CDC, and MDH, and mandate masks for all students -- especially those under 12. Not every family will choose to have their children immunized, but we should provide for a protected, safe environment for all ineligible students at least until families who DO want to vaccinate their children have the opportunity to do so.
It is our obligation as parents and educators to follow the science and have universal masking and layered mitigation mandates in White Bear Lake schools this fall. It is every child’s right to attend an in-person school where they are safe and protected. We know you, the policy makers, will follow the evidence and guidance from the experts in children’s health to change White Bear Lake district’s policies to align with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the MDH.
AAP, CDC, and MDH guidance:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/schoolrecs.pdf#page5
References:
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Petition created on July 25, 2021